TYRONE LORAN is putting in extra-time on the training ground in the hope of pushing his way back into contention for a first-team place at Tranmere Rovers.

The self-imposed regime of afterhours work is the young Dutch-man's positive response to his frustrating start to the League One campaign. Loran, a first-team regular who played more than 30 games last season, has managed just two substitute appearances this.

He said: "I am working very hard now, doing extra sessions myself after training and on my days off. I have to do this to give myself a chance of getting back into the first team."

Loran's problems were initially caused by an Achilles tendon injury that forced him to miss pre-season and early season games. By the time Loran was fit enough for action, the defensive positions he has played, most often under manager Brian Little, had been secured by others as Tranmere made a strong start to the season.

Loran is following the example set by countryman John Achter-berg, who is usually the first to arrive and the last to leave on training days at Tranmere and defender Mike Jackson, who supplements his regular work with a special scientifically developed programme of personal training.

Loran works on his own formula but receives help from Jackson, Achterberg and Tranmere's 18-year-old goalkeeping prospect Phil Palethorpe, who volunteers to stay behind with him.

Loran said: "I come in and work on my days off because I am not getting the games I want at the weekend and I need to get back to full match fitness and sharpness."

Prospects looked bright for Loran when he reported back for pre-season training with Tran-mere at the end of June. Signed by Tranmere on a free transfer from Manchester City in the summer of 2003, following a successful five-month spell on loan, the 23-year-old from Amsterdam has demonstrated his abilities under two managers at Prenton Park.

Ray Mathias used Loran in a defensive midfield role. Little deployed his strapping frame in the centre of defence and at right-back.

However, after one game of Tranmere's pre-season programme this summer, Loran found himself on the treatment table. He said: "I came back for pre-season training feeling fine. But I played one game and I began feeling some trouble in my achilles.

"When I went to see a specialist he advised three weeks' complete rest. So when the season started, I just wasn't available for the first six games."

The right-back berth was secured by former England youth international Ryan Taylor who has been an ever-present in Tranmere's starting line-up.

Loran was able to resume training with the squad once more by the end of August and to his surprise found himself thrown into first team action as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Stockport on Bank Holiday Monday. He made another appearance as a substitute in the goalless draw at Barnsley five days later.

Loran confessed: "I wasn't happy with my performance in those games. I did not think I was as fit and ready as I could have been so I want to make sure I'm in the best possible shape next time."

Meanwhile Loran has been learning the disciplines of the right-back role in reserve games.

He said: "I really enjoyed the defensive midfield position I played under Ray Mathias. Last season I had two conversations with Brian Little and he says he sees me as a right-back. As a player you have to go where the manager puts you.

"I played that position about 15 times for the first team last season and felt I did quite well.

"I had to learn it from scratch really because in my previous career in Holland and at City, I mostly played centre-back or midfield. I'm playing right-back all of the time now, even in training, so it's up to me to get as fit and sharp as I can to do the best job there."